Beekeeper's journey through 'varroa wave' and her chemical-free future strategy

Jackie Morrison, a 2023 Nuffield scholar, is actively applying her knowledge of chemical-free varroa management as her hives recover from a severe varroa infestation that devastated 85% of her colonies in the Northern Rivers last year. She notes that while colder regions face a slower threat, the sub-tropical Northern Rivers experiences a unique challenge due to its favorable climate and abundant floral resources that support feral bee populations, which harbor the varroa mite. These feral colonies collapse, leading healthy bees to rob them and inadvertently spread the mites, complicating management efforts. During the peak of the crisis, mite counts surged dramatically, and a subsequent small hive beetle infestation further exacerbated the situation.